Visa’s Practical Money Matters column delivers expert personal finance tips to consumers of all ages in English and Spanish. The article series has been syndicated nationwide in 500 U.S. newspapers and a Huffington Post blog. Topics include saving, budgeting, credit & debt, life events, taxes, retirement, insurance and more.

PMM Articles

This article and the recommendations included within it are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for tax, legal, regulatory or other advice. Recommendations should be independently evaluated by a tax professional in light of...

Identity theft can be a time-consuming and costly hassle, but there are measures you can take to protect your personal information and avoid the headache. One tool that can help is credit monitoring. But what exactly does credit monitoring do? And...

Parents take their children's financial future seriously, and technology provides an ever-evolving variety of fun and innovative ways to teach kids about money. However, some parents are concerned about limiting their kids' screen time, and others may be looking for more...

I went to college after high school, and it proved to be a good However, I also realize that the college path isn't necessarily the right fit for everyone, nor is it something to be embarked upon lightly and without A...

If you've got a business idea and you couple that with an entrepreneurial itch, you may find yourself tossing and turning at night trying to figure out a plan for moving it forward – dreaming of the day you'll become your...

Like many others, when my wife and I got married, we decided to intertwine our finances along with the rest of our lives. For most couples, opening joint bank accounts and buying a car or home together is the norm. However,...

While learning to discuss and manage money as a couple can be a challenge at first, figuring it out can pay dividends for years to come. It's beneficial to start communicating about money early in a relationship and to maintain open...

A friend and I were recently discussing family pets. Their family had recently adopted a dog, and he was pointing out that while his children had fervently promised to take care of the pet with the best of intentions, they didn't...

Leaving college and entering the "real world" can bring about a mixture of excitement and anxiety. I remember feeling as if the possibilities were endless, but also feeling uncertainty about where or how to start the next phase of my life....

How do you envision your retirement? For some, there's an idealistic image that many share of days spent walking along a warm beach, endless travel and a leisurely lifestyle. On the other end of the spectrum, some people haven't had the...

A birthday party is a fun way to recognize important milestones in a child's life. Family and friends are invited to join in the fun, and everyone enjoys a day of celebration. Behind the scenes, however, this can be a stressful...

Camping can be an inexpensive way to enjoy a vacation with your friends and family. Whether you’re going swimming or boating at a nearby lake, or want to rough it on a multi-day backpacking trip, many people look forward to taking...

In some parts of the world, a gap year – a year-long break between high school and college – is the norm. It's starting to catch on in the U.S. as well.
It's a chance for recent high school graduates to...

Are you packing up your car and hitting the road this summer? You're not alone. According to a survey conducted by AAA, road trips are the most popular type of vacation for families in the U.S. in 2017. In fact, 10...

Whether it's a dog, cat or another furry (or scaly) friend, many people have pets who are more than just animals – they're part of the family.
Pets can be friends, they can offer nonjudgmental companionship when you're feeling down and...

Many parents face the same difficult question when raising a child. Should one of you stay at home while the other works? It's not a question to take lightly. The decision can have emotional and financial consequences and may have a...

Season ticket holder or first timer, watching your team take the field or visiting new teams in a different venue, gripping your seat tightly during the finger-biting last minutes of a close game or cheering on a decisive win – sports...

You can break personal finance into three broad categories: income, expenses and savings. Your personal cash flow statement lists your income and expenses and a common goal is to end each month with a positive balance – with money left over...

College tuition, a new pair of glasses and retirement may seem unrelated, but the tax law says otherwise. By knowing how and where to save your money, you could pay for each of these expenses with tax-advantaged – or in some...

Whether it’s a matter of comfort, appearance or safety, there are many medical procedures that you may want or need, but your health insurance won’t cover.
Laser eye surgery may fall into the want category for most people and it can...